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<br />CASE # .5 <br /> <br />CONSIDER DRIVEWAY CULVERT POLICY <br />By: Steven Jankowski, Assishmt City Engineer <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The City of Ramsey has thousands of driveways located on streets with ditch sections providing <br />street drainage. The exact number has not been determined d1Je to a number of factors including; <br />some rural subdivisions have curb t1nd gutter; lax enforcement of the requirements in the older <br />subdivisions; and multiple driveways on individual lots. Staff will attempt to have an estimate <br />for this number by the time of the meeting. Attached is the Committee case and minutes from the <br />last time this subj ect was discussed in 1993. <br /> <br />The current City Code does not address the requirements for driveway culverts, however, as late <br />as 1999 the code required tht1.t a minimum 1 S inch culvert be placed beneath every driveway <br />unless it was determined by the street superintendant that a culvert would not be required. The <br />City' s pr~ctice has bee;n to supply culverts to property owners at cost, including delivery. It h,lS <br />also been City policy to have the property owner responsible for the maintenance and repair of <br />the driveway culvert. Until recently when the P\'lblic Works department acquired a jet/vae <br />machine the City had only the same method for cleaning as the property owner~ a long shovel. <br /> <br />The purpose of this case is to solicit direction for establishing a policy relative to culvert <br />installation and repair. Several issues which should be included in such a policy LnGl\.lde the <br />tbllowing; <br /> <br />Installation requirement - A minimum of a 15 inch culvert including flared end sections shall be <br />required under every driveway in locations where street drainage is carried by a ditch section. <br />a. Insert a grandfather clause to exempt existing culverts? . <br />b. Require installation for reconstructed driveway? <br />c. Develop a technical standard for the material. <br /> <br />Prohibition afRemoval " A recent experience with a property owner removing the driveway <br />culvert resutted in the nooding of this property. Any new policy or code should specitically <br />make the property owner responsible for damage resulting from the blockage or removal of a <br />culvert. <br /> <br />Mainfencmce Requtrttments - The pt'operty owner shall be responsible tor the maintenanoc"of <br />each culvert as an integral element of their driveway. <br />a. Does the City wish to offer their services (vue truck) for the cleaning of culvert? <br />b. City to set a charge tor cleaning'? <br />c. Waiver of liability if the culvert coUupses after cleaning because it is badly <br />deteriorated <br />d. OtIer cleaning on new culverts constructed to standards only? <br /> <br />29 <br />